Cytomolecular characterization of early and late condensing chromosome regions in some Annonaceae species

The condensation patterns (CPs) of prophase chromosomes represent poorly explored and little understood karyotype features. Three distinct chromosome domains are observed in conventionally stained prophases of most angiosperms with small chromosomes: heterochromatin and early condensing euchromatin (ECEu), which are observed as early condensing regions (ECRs), and late condensing euchromatin or late condensing regions (LCRs). All three prophase domains have been often reported in the Annonaceae species. To gain a better understanding of these regions, we investigated the CPs, heterochromatic bands, and rDNA sites in seven Annona species with 2n = 14, 28, and 54 and Xylopia frutescens with 2n = 16. Besides, histone H4K5 acetylation, telomeric sites, and DNA methylation were analysed in some of these species. LCRs corresponded to a small hyperacetylated, and hypomethylated fraction of the metaphase chromosomes. During interphase, the chromocentres displayed variable proportions of heterochromatin and ECEu. The LCRs and ECRs were conserved even between disploid and polyploid species, whereas rDNA sites and heterochromatic bands varied in number and location. Our data suggest that chromatin compartmentalization in ECR and LCR regions may represent the simplest functional organization of the small chromosomes of Annonaceae, while the remaining characters are less relevant.